One of the new features with iOS 9 is App Thinning, and it happens to be present in Apple’s tvOS as well, the operating system found in the new Apple TV — which recently became available to order.
With only days standing in the way of future Apple TV owners getting their set-top box in the mail, Polygon has gone in-depth with the new Apple TV, but, more importantly, with the apps that will be available on the new box, and how the aforementioned App Thinning feature can impact the storage allotment provided to Apple TV owners.
On September 9 it was reported that apps built for the tvOS are limited to an initial size of only 200MB, which, at face value, suggests that a device with 32GB of built-in storage (less actually available to the user) could be more than enough for the average user. However, it’s been since revealed that initial download is only meant to help save time and storage initially, with app developers able to immediately install 2GB of assets to the app/game as soon as the initial installation finishes. On top of that, developers can store up to 20GB of additional data related to the app or game in iCloud, which can be downloaded and installed, or deleted, when necessary.
For its part, Apple is about as straightforward about the situation as it typically is in any situation, suggesting options for people in certain scenarios. Specifically, Apple says that Apple TV owners that plan on streaming a lot of content and only plan on playing a few games or using some apps should probably be okay with the 32GB variant. However, for those that plan on downloading a lot of apps and games, the 64GB option with its higher price tag is probably the safest bet to go with.
The full report is certainly worth reading, especially as developers are asked what they think of the App Thinning feature and how it impact their titles. Some were not worried, especially those with games that fit the initial 200MB size limitation, while others weren’t so ecstatic. Tyrone Rodriguez is the developer behind the popular title The Binding of Isaac, and if he wanted to get the game on the Apple TV, there would have be a lot of changes implemented to make it an option for the set-top box:
App size will be, and no pun intended, a huge issue for some developers,” Rodriguez tells Polygon. “This means The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth won’t meet Apple’s requirements without serious reworking. This device is intended for in-home wi-fi/wired Internet, but it’s clear that Apple [wants] to reduce the file size so that more apps can fit on the device. It’s a bit disingenuous and not ideal for the game developer.”
Check out the full report through the source link below. Which Apple TV do you plan on picking up?
[via Polygon]
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